Evaluation of Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A Levels in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Associations with Disease Severity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a systemic disorder characterized by chronic airflow limitation and an increased inflammatory response of the airways. Comorbidities are frequent in COPD and it is crucial to predict these in early stage for adequate management of COPD. Recent studies have reported that elevated levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a zinc-binding metalloproteinase, detected in patients with asthma, lung cancer, and pulmonary embolism and independently associated with cardiovascular events.

Heart Rate Acceleration and Recovery Indices are Not Related to the Development of Ventricular Premature Beats During Exercise Test.

Background: Changes in heart rate (HR) during exercise and recovery from exercise are mediated by the balance between sympathetic and vagal activity. HR acceleration (HRA) and recovery (HRR) are important measures of cardiac autonomic dysfunction and directly correlated with sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. It is not known if the autonomic nervous system related to ventricular arrhythmias during exercise.

The importance of the mean platelet volume in the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia.

Background: The diagnosis of palpitation can be difficult in the emergency department (ED) and the waiting time for a first appointment with an arrhythmia clinic can be very long. The inflammation is sufficient to facilitate the initiation of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT). The increased mean platelet volume (MPV) is closely correlated with inflammation and to reflect inflammatory burden in different condition.

Detection of left ventricular asynchrony and its relationship with the Tei index in patients with coronary artery ectasia.

Objective: To evaluate left ventricular (LV) systolic asynchrony and its relationship with the Tei index using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI); and to evaluate the relationship of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction frame count (TFC) and Tei index with LV asynchrony in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE).

Methods: A total of 50 CAE patients and 40 control subjects were evaluated. Diagnosis of CAE was made angiographically and TFC was calculated.

Hematological parameters and coronary collateral circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Background: Although hematological parameters have been associated with prognosis in patients with various cardiovascular diseases, their relationship with coronary collateral (CC) circulation in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) is unknown.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hematological parameters and CC vessel development in patients with stable CAD.

Methods: A total of 96 patients who underwent coronary angiography were retrospectively enrolled.

The diagnostic significance of NT-proBNP and troponin I in emergency department patients presenting with palpitations.

Objective: This prospective study investigated the diagnostic significance of the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic (NT-proBNP) and troponin I peptides in emergency department patients presenting with palpitations.

Methods: Two groups of patients with palpitations but without documented supraventricular tachycardia were compared: a group with supraventricular tachycardia (n = 49) and a control group (n = 47). Both groups were diagnosed using electrophysiological studies during the study period.

Assessment of the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in young patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Objectives: It is well known that inflammation plays a key role in both initiation and propagation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). White blood cell (WBC) and its subtypes are an indicator of inflammation in patients with ACS. We aimed to evaluate the WBC and its subtypes in patients aged <45 year with acute coronary syndromes.

[Relation of neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio with the presence and severity of coronary artery ectasia].

Objectives: It has been shown that the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (N/L ratio) is associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. In this study, we investigated the N/L ratio in patients with coronary artery ectasia (CAE).

Study Design: Fifty patients diagnosed with CAE using coronary angiography were included in the study (29 male, 21 female; mean age, 51.

[Anxiety levels and quality of life assessment in patients that underwent an electrophysiologic study due to unexplained palpitations].

Objectives: To compare the quality of life and anxiety levels of patients with normal and abnormal results detected during an electrophysiological study (EPS) that was performed due to undocumented palpitations.

Study Design: Patients (n=128) who underwent EPS without documented arrhythmia of unexplained palpitations were included in the study. The quality of life and anxiety levels of patients with abnormal EPS results were compared with those with normal results by using the 26-item short form of the World Health Organization quality of life scale and state-trait anxiety inventory.

Recurrent pacemaker lead thrombosis in a patient with gene polymorphism: a rare case treated with thrombolytic therapy.

Pacemaker (PM)-related thrombosis is an infrequent complication of pacing. We present the case of a 58-year-old man with heart failure and atrial fibrillation who had recurrent episodes of PM lead thrombosis while undergoing anticoagulation therapy. The patient was admitted to the hospital with complaints of dyspnea and palpitation.

Predictive value of total atrial conduction time measured with tissue Doppler imaging for postoperative atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Objective: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) complicating coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) increases morbidity and stroke risk. Total atrial conduction time (PA-TDI duration) has been identified as an independent predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to assess whether PA-TDI duration is a predictor of AF after CABG.

Cardiac autonomic function in healthy young smokers.

The present study examined the heart rate turbulence (HRT) and heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in healthy young smokers (<40 years) to assess the effects of smoking on cardiac autonomic function. The study included 75 smokers with a history of habitual smoking for at least 1 year (41 males and 34 females; mean age, 29.3 ± 7.

Detection of subclinical atrial dysfunction by two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with overt hyperthyroidism.

Background: Hyperthyroidism is an important cardiovascular risk factor in the development of atrial fibrillation and heart failure. Increased atrial electromechanical intervals are used to predict atrial fibrillation, measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI).

Aims: To evaluate atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) and left atrial (LA) mechanical function in patients with overt hyperthyroidism.

Glycated haemoglobin is correlated with the severity of coronary artery disease independently of traditional risk factors in young patients.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in < 40 years old patients.

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 211 premature coronary atherosclerotic patients (pCAP) (aged 36.4 ± 2.

Predictive value of mean platelet volume in young patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: a retrospective observational study.

Objective: Platelets play an important role in both initiation and propagation of acute coronary syndromes. We sought to evaluate the predictive value of mean platelet volume (MPV) in young patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS).

Methods: This is a retrospective observational study; evaluating the MPV values of 79 NSTE-ACS patients aged under 45 years and 45 control subjects having normal coronary anatomy.

Effect of serum gamma-glutamyl transferase levels on myocardial perfusion and long-term prognosis after primary angioplasty in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: Gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level was found to be elevated in plasma of patients with cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of our study was to assess the relationship between serum GGT levels and the occurrence of no-reflow as well as to evaluate the prognostic value of GGT in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) population.

Methods And Results: One hundred sixty-eight consecutive patients with STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) were enrolled in the study.

Atrial conduction time and atrial mechanical function in patients with impaired fasting glucose.

Background: Prolonging atrial conduction time, as measured by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), is an independent predictor of new onset or recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated atrial conduction time and cardiac mechanical function in patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) using echocardiography.

Methods: Thirty patients with IFG (19 males and 11 females; age, 46.

Coronary artery ectasia is associated with atrial electrical and mechanical dysfunction: an observational study.

Objective: The aim of our study was to investigate total atrial conduction time and left atrial (LA) mechanical function in patients with isolated coronary artery ectasia (ICAE).

Methods: Sixty patients with ICAE without any visible coronary stenosis were enrolled to this cross-sectional observational study. The control group consisted of 40 age- and gender-matched patients.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate in acute myocardial infarction as a predictor of poor prognosis and impaired reperfusion.

Aim: To investigate whether the elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is associated with an adverse prognosis in the patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods: It included 140 consecutive patients undergoing primary PCI for acute STEMI, 12 hours after symptom beginning and 50 healthy age and sex matched control subjects. All patients were categorized into two groups defined by the median ESR level on admission.

A relationship between mitral valve prolapse and subtypes of supraventricular tachycardia.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of mitral valve prolapse (MVP) in patients with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) who were diagnosed by intracardiac electrophysiological study (EPS).

Method: The study was a retrospective cohort of 378 adult patients (128 males and 250 females, 17 to 63 years) admitted with EPS. We included 267 SVT patients (58.

Serum levels of omentin in end-stage renal disease patients.

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Therefore, evaluation and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are very important. The plasma level of omentin was found to be associated with different conditions such as insulin resistance.

Prognostic significance of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Objectives: This study investigated the prognostic value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a promising biomarker for acute kidney injury. Recently, it was concluded that NGAL may be used beyond the boundaries of renal physiopathology.

Elevated plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine level in acute myocardial infarction patients as a predictor of poor prognosis and angiographic impaired reperfusion.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of admission asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels on myocardial perfusion and prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background: ADMA, an endogenous inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, was found to be elevated in plasma of patients with cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods: 168 consecutive patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI <12 h after symptom onset and 75 healthy age and sex matched volunteer controls were enrolled in the study.